Category Archives: science

GM Salmon: Ethics, Regulation, and Labelling

Posted on August 28, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

We are getting closer and closer to seeing genetically-modified salmon on the dinner table. When that happens (yes, “when”, not “if”) then GM salmon will be the first genetically-modified food animal to be consumed by humans. Here’s the story, Sarah … Continue reading →

Posted in aquaculture, biotechnology, ecosystems, ethics, fisheries, genetic modification, labeling, science | 3 Comments

The Ethics of “Healthy” Bacon

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

This is the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Here’s the start of the story, from ABC Science: ‘Healthy bacon’ patents raise questions Monsanto has filed patents that cover the feeding of animals soybeans, which have been genetically modified by the … Continue reading →

Posted in biotechnology, ethics, genetic modification, health, health claims, labeling, nutrition, science | 10 Comments

Should Companies Label Genetically Modified Foods?

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Since this blog is relatively new, readers may not have seen my postings (on my Business Ethics Blog) about the labelling of GM foods. (See here and here.) This is a topic I’ve given considerable thought, and have published on … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biotechnology, ecosystems, ethics, genetic modification, labeling, marketing, regulation, science | 63 Comments

Corporate Ethics, Evidence, and Fructose

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Evidence seems to be mounting that not all sugars are created equal. See this story by Leslie Beck, writing for the Globe & Mail: Fructose can trigger cancer cells to grow faster, study finds It’s been blamed for a host … Continue reading →

Posted in ethics, nutrition, science | Comments Off on Corporate Ethics, Evidence, and Fructose

Milk and Meat from the Offspring of Clones

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

OK, so lots of people are put off by the idea of eating cloned cows or pigs, or drinking the milk of cloned cows. Some of those people have genuine ethical concerns; others are just subject to the “yuck factor.” … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, biotechnology, cloning, ethics, international, regulation, science | 2 Comments

Ethics, Ideology, & Synthetic Meat

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

See this blog entry (at The Atlantic) by James McWilliams, Eating (Synthetic) Animals …one issue to which concerned consumers have generally turned a tin ear is “in-vitro meat.” Although the cost is currently prohibitive, the technology is widely available to … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, biotechnology, science, synthetic meat | 1 Comment

Cloned Animals, Food, Ethics

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

I guess it was inevitable. Given Europe’s history of mistrusting genetically-modified foods, you had to know that the idea of cloned foods was going to have a rough time there. Here’s the story, by James Kanter, writing for the NY … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, cloning, ecosystems, genes, public policy, regulation, science | 2 Comments

Ethics, Evidence, and Salt

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

One of the biggest problems for consumers hoping to choose foods wisely (and for regulators hoping to help consumers in that regard) lies in the difficulty in getting good, clear advice. Even salt (discussed in yesterday’s posting as well) is … Continue reading →

Posted in nutrition, public policy, regulation, science, taste | Comments Off on Ethics, Evidence, and Salt